Betsy Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome at the age of 65, New Mexico health authorities said. Here’s what to know about the rare but deadly disease.
4 min
Betsy Arakawa visits the Berlin Wall with Gene Hackman during the filming of the movie “The Package” in West Berlin on March 13, 1989. (Lutz Schmidt/AP)
Betsy Arakawa, pianist and wife of actor Gene Hackman, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, New Mexico chief medical examiner Heather Jarrell said Friday at a news conference.
Arakawa, 65, and Hackman, 95, were found dead in their Santa Fe home last month.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare illness spread by rodents that was first detected in humans in the United States about three decades ago. Here’s what to know.
What to know
What happened to Betsy Arakawa?
What are the symptoms of hantavirus?
How common is it?